Eighteen British service personnel are being tested amid fears they may have been given contaminated blood while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Eighteen British service personnel are being tested amid fears they may have been given contaminated blood while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The troops are being screened for a range of diseases including HIV, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The troops are being screened for a range of diseases including HIV, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The blood transfusions were given to personnel serving in the two countries after 2001 from US front-line donors.
The blood transfusions were given to personnel serving in the two countries after 2001 from US front-line donors.
The MoD said the risk of infection was low and that the troops could have died without receiving the emergency blood.
The MoD said the risk of infection was low and that the troops could have died without receiving the emergency blood.
Situation taken 'seriously'
Situation taken 'seriously'
The personnel are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV - a virus similar to HIV, Chagas - a tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas - and the sexually-transmitted infection syphilis.
The personnel are being tested for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, HTLV - a virus similar to HIV, Chagas - a tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas - and the sexually-transmitted infection syphilis.
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved Derek TwiggDefence Minister
Defence Minister Derek Twigg said the risk of any of the troops being infected was "low", but the MoD was still taking the situation "extremely seriously".
Defence Minister Derek Twigg said the risk of any of the troops being infected was "low", but the MoD was still taking the situation "extremely seriously".
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line," he said.
"These 18 service personnel would almost certainly have died without receiving an emergency blood transfusion at the front line," he said.
He added: "We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved.
He added: "We are working with the appropriate health authorities to do all that we can to test and reassure the people involved.
"We are, and will continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time."
"We are, and will continue to do all that we can to support them and their families through this uncertain time."
Retrospective tests
Retrospective tests
The MoD said it was routine procedure in emergencies for British military personnel to be treated at the nearest medical facility, whether it was run by American, coalition or UK forces.
The MoD said it was routine procedure in emergencies for British military personnel to be treated at the nearest medical facility, whether it was run by American, coalition or UK forces.
The 18 soldiers are being tested because the blood they received from US front-line emergency donors did not undergo "valid retrospective tests", which are used to screen donors for diseases after a transfusion.
The 18 soldiers are being tested because the blood they received from US front-line emergency donors did not undergo "valid retrospective tests", which are used to screen donors for diseases after a transfusion.
An MoD spokeswoman said the test results were expected within the next three weeks.
An MoD spokeswoman said the test results were expected within the next three weeks.
Have you been affected by this story? Send us your comments and any experiences you have.
